Dr. Sharon Carr Brings
Enthusiasm, Experience, and
Playwright’s Perspective
to BSC Theater Activities

 

( Bluefield)—A playwright who grew up in coal country, Dr. Sharon Carr understands the importance—and the challenges—of creating opportunities for Bluefield State College students to experience theater. An Associate Professor of Speech and Drama, Carr joined the BSC faculty this fall, and she’s embraced the assignment of enhancing the Blue Chicory Players—the BSC theater group established a year ago.

“It’s extremely important for our students to feel connected to the College, to become involved, and to take part in something special while they are here,” she explained. “Theater benefits the student in a multitude of ways, cultivating their interest in performance and what it can do for them—how it helps them learn and benefit from the process. Performance is a way to step into another person’s shoes, and it’s invaluable in students’ social development.”

Carr, a coal miner’s daughter from northern Kentucky, earned bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees from Southern Illinois University, while coordinating the multiple responsibilities of academics and being a single mother of two young children. For the past 15 years, she’s been a faculty member at Southeast Missouri State University, where she directed the theater program. “At Bluefield State, many students have jobs and family responsibilities,” she observed. “I understand the challenges of handling multiple responsibilities—I’ve been there. We’ll be creative about scheduling rehearsal times so that our students can be a part of the theater group.”

Plans call for the first show to be presented on November 9-12 on campus with a spring semester show scheduled for April 19-22. “The first show, ‘Walking on Our Knees,’ grew from research for my dissertation,” Carr said. “It’s somewhat autobiographical, focusing on the life, times, and challenges in a coal mining community. In the spring, we will present an original adaptation of ‘The Canterbury Tales.’ It will be fun.”

Interested Bluefield State College students, employees, and community residents are encouraged to attend a “Theater Interest” meeting, next Wednesday, August 30, beginning at 11 a.m. in the Basic Science Auditorium.  Plans for play production during the College’s 2006-07 academic year will be discussed as well as a regular meeting time for the Blue Chicory Players.  Dr. Carr can be contacted (ext. 4432 or by e/mail-- scarr@bluefieldstate.edu), Room 116-Basic Science for more information.

During the Fall 2006 Semester, she is also teaching a one-hour credit course (Speech 223) that focuses on play production.

August 23, 2006